My mamma was born on February 12, Lincoln’s birthday. She never forgot that. To hear her talk, she had received a signal honor because her birthday coincided with the President’s. This grew to such proportion that we were never quite sure whether we were celebrating her birthday or the President’s.

It’s October 28, 2012. Henry is off to church and I am diddling at the computer. Diddle, interesting word. Have just looked it up. It means, waste time, as in, I diddled all morning, doing this and that, accomplishing nothing.

To my definition of a Christian as someone who is useful and compassionate, I’d like to append that, of course, there are many non-Christians who are useful and compassionate. In my book, the true Christian performs even in moments demanding personal sacrifice.

Lately, have you noticed in the press, television, movies an upgrading in professional titles of people in the professions and business?? New names have replaced old ones: a dentist’s assistant is now an hygienicist. A secretary is not necessarily that, but a personal assistant. A decorator is now an interior designer. Personnel departments are now Offices of Human Resources. (I was aways taught that the fewer the words, the better.) Could it be that employers are trying to woo us not by appropriate raises, but by glorified titles?

Don;t know how many small vices readers may have, but Yours Truly has a slew–nose-fiddling, skin-picking, mirror-watching, mind-changing, sitting too much. It’s not that I like doing them–they just occur, without choice. Fight each one as it comes? Will try, but as soon as I stop, I will forget my resolve and do it again.